GTX-D to be Detailed in Early Next Year... Special Traffic Measures to be Established for New Towns

2020 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Work Report
▲Rail-Centered Transportation System Innovation Presented as a Key Public Welfare Task

GTX-D Route to be Detailed in the First Half of Next Year... Accelerated Project Promotion for A, B, and C Lines
400 km/h High-Speed Rail Line to be Installed Between Pyeongtaek and Osong
Complex Transfer Centers at Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station

Special Measures for New Towns with Insufficient Transportation Networks... Immediate Remedies Such as M Buses Prescribed

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The detailed plan for the fourth line of the metropolitan wide-area express railroad (GTX), the Western Line (also known as Line D), will be released in the first half of next year. Although residents have already moved in, new towns lacking sufficient transportation infrastructure will be designated as 'Special Measures Zones' and metropolitan express buses (M-buses) will be immediately deployed. The government plans to add more than five new M-bus routes annually in metropolitan areas going forward.

On the morning of the 27th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport presented the 'Three Major Goals and Eight Strategies to Revitalize the Economy, and Two Major Livelihood Issues' during the 2020 work report held at the Blue House with President Moon Jae-in in attendance. In the report, the Ministry outlined three major economic revitalization goals: ▲ Establishing regional economic hubs ▲ Activating regional SOC (Social Overhead Capital) investment ▲ Creating jobs in land and transportation sectors, along with two major livelihood tasks: ▲ Expanding public rental housing supply ▲ Innovating a railway-centered transportation system.

Through the work report, the Ministry announced plans to expand the metropolitan railway network including GTX and to build integrated transfer centers at Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station to innovate the transportation system centered on railways.

The most attention is focused on the future of the GTX-D line. Since the Metropolitan Transport Committee mentioned the possibility of establishing Line D in its 'Metropolitan Transport Vision 2030' announced last October, various predictions about the route have emerged. Industry insiders consider the route from Gimpo New Town to Gangnam to Hanam Misa New Town as the most likely.

Progress on the existing A, B, and C lines will also accelerate. The Ministry began establishing the basic plan for Line B last month and plans to announce the basic plan for Line C in November. Construction on Line A is currently underway with a target opening in 2023.

Integrated transfer centers will be developed at Seoul Station and Cheongnyangni Station in the Gangbuk area, through which the GTX lines pass. This aims to enhance convenience for users of the railway-linked transportation network while revitalizing the Gangbuk area, achieving two goals at once.

Next-generation high-speed train (HEMU-430X) developed and manufactured with purely domestic technology, capable of speeds up to 430 km/h

The introduction of ultra-high-speed trains running at speeds exceeding 400 km/h will also be actively pursued. The Ministry plans to secure a new railway line capable of speeds over 400 km/h through the double-tracking high-speed rail project on the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line section from Pyeongtaek Junction to Osong Station, where line capacity is reaching saturation. The vehicle, HEMU-430x, developed by the Korea Railroad Research Institute, successfully ran at 421 km/h in 2013.

New towns where transportation networks have not been expanded even after residents have moved in will be designated as 'Special Measures Zones for Metropolitan Transportation Networks' and special countermeasures will be established. Unlike railway construction, which requires time, metropolitan express bus (M-bus) routes that can be deployed immediately will be increased. The Ministry plans to add more than five new M-bus routes annually in metropolitan areas.

In addition, the Ministry will increase the number of M-bus routes from the current 35 to 44 and expand the number of routes with a reservation system from 8 to 20. In September, demand-tailored M-buses will also be introduced.

Support for innovative growth projects will also be actively provided. In June, a mobility consulting support team will be formed to promote the spread of platform taxis and support the launch of various platforms. In July, safety standards for Level 3 autonomous vehicles capable of automatic lane changes will be implemented. In Sejong, a Level 3 autonomous large bus (45 seats) will be piloted. In November, drone taxis will conduct trial flights, and various mobility innovations will be a key focus throughout this year.